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Thursday, December 1, 2016

IGP urges Penang to disband voluntary patrol unit

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar has advised the Penang government to abolish the state's Badan Pasukan Sukarela (BPS) or voluntary patrol unit before police take action against the uniformed group.

"There is no point to have it only for us to declare it illegal later," Khalid said in Penang today.

"I guarantee that the police force is still able to look after the safety and security of the state and country," he added.

"The Penang government does not need to worry that without these additional uniformed group, the state would be in chaos," he added.

"We would never allow the state or country to be in such a condition," Khalid assured.

But Khalid refused to give a deadline, saying the Penang government should know what to do after hearing his advice.

Khalid was in Penang to sign a memorandum of agreement with Universiti Sains Malaysia to hold training programmes with the police.

Khalid said he was aware of the people who were advising the Penang government on the set-up of the voluntary body.

"These so-called advisers are not qualified to advise the Penang government on the matter," Khalid said.

However, Khalid declined to name the advisers.

He then invited the current members of BPS to register with the police as there were many other voluntary community policing groups which were open to all citizens.

The new BPS was supposed to replace the outlawed Pasukan Peronda Sukarela (PPS), which was disbanded in December last year after the Home Ministry ruled that it was involved in “illegal activities”.

The new BPS would be parked under the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK), and would start screening new members to join the team.

Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon had said the BPS was under the jurisdiction of the District Office as JKKKs reported to the DO, although they also reported to their respective assemblypersons.

Last month, PPS failed to obtain a judicial review to challenge the federal government's claim that the unit is illegal.- Mkini